杏MAP导航 to pilgrims from Panama: thank you for your 鈥渘obility鈥�
By Vatican News
World Youth Day in Panama took place in late January this year. But the event is still clearly very much alive in the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 memory.
Meeting with a group of pilgrims from Panama in the Vatican on Thursday, 杏MAP导航 Francis thanked them for all the work that went into making WYD 2019 such a success. 鈥淚t's good to thank each other鈥�, he said, because 鈥渋t's a word we often forget鈥�.
The 鈥渘obility鈥� of Panama
The 杏MAP导航 focussed his message to the pilgrims on the theme of gratitude. Referring to his experience in Panama in January, he said 鈥淚 too am very grateful for what I saw: a noble people鈥�. 鈥淣obility is not bought鈥�, he continued, 鈥渋t is inherited, breathed, lived. You are either noble or you are not noble鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis described Panama as 鈥渁 noble country鈥� where protocol can be broken even by bishops and civil authorities. He remembered seeing authorities, including the President, 鈥渋n jeans and a t-shirt鈥�, in the midst of the people. 鈥淭hat's nobility鈥�, he explained, 鈥渋t's respect for the people, love for the people鈥�.
The 鈥渋dentity鈥� of Panama
杏MAP导航 Francis remembered the 鈥渕ini youth day鈥� that was prepared especially for children. He also spoke of the importance of engaging children in what he called 鈥渋ntergenerational dialogue鈥�, in order to draw inspiration 鈥渇rom the roots鈥� so that children may 鈥済row and flourish鈥�. 鈥淚deological colonisations鈥�, he warned, 鈥渒ill nobility鈥�, while bridges built between one generation and another 鈥渉elp one's own identity鈥�.
The 鈥渞oots鈥� of Panama
Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis thanked his visitors for the respect they have shown local indigenous peoples. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good to be able to say: No, our people didn't start from here; our people also have roots that must be integrated鈥�. The ability to integrate is another sign of nobility鈥�, he said. The 杏MAP导航 admitted he had been 鈥渧ery happy in Panama鈥�, saying he could breathe an air of 鈥渘ormality and tenderness鈥� there. 杏MAP导航 Francis said that perhaps one of his Successors would call another World Youth Day there, maybe 鈥渋n about 150 years from now!鈥�
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